Passing the Prose Section!

Shawn GibsonNeil PurohitAP English

Analytical Focus• The following passage is from the

novel Middlemarch by George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans (1819–1880). In the passage, Rosamond and Tertius Lydgate, a recently married couple, confront financial difficulties. Read the passage carefully. Then write a well-developed essay in which you analyze how Eliot portrays these two characters and their complex relationship as husband and wife. You may wish to consider such literary devices as narrative perspective and selection of detail.

• The following passage is the opening of the novel Kiss of the Fur Queen (1998) by the Cree novelist and playwright Tomson Highway. Read the passage carefully. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Highway uses literary devices to dramatize Okimasis’ experience.

Analytical Focus (cont’d)

• From reading these prompts, as well as from reading other old prompts, you can tell that characterization and figurative language are two of the more important focuses of the Prose essay.

• Though we aren’t able to predict the analytical topic of this year’s prose question, we are only able to refresh upon all different literary elements in order to be confident on the big day!

Thematic Focus• In order to successfully complete

the prose passage essay question of the Advanced Placement English Exam, time management and some other basic ideas are extremely vital and necessary. Since each section of the exam is timed, it’s extremely important to plan your timing on each essay section of the exam. The Prose Essay Section is approximately 40 minutes long. Writing an essay in 40 minutes can be either a cake walk for some or a train ride to disaster for others, however this time format can help ensure completeness and a decent score on the prose section.

• 1 – 3 minutes – Reading Essay Question

• 10 minutes – Reading Passage

• 5 minutes – Outlining• 20 minutes – Writing

Essay• 2 – 3 minutes –

Rereading Essay. (Editing stage)

Thematic Focus (cont’d)• Additionally, according to past prose

questions from past AP English Exams, the author’s tone, different figurative language and characterization are three commonly asked questions.

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• By creating the prose section, test makers want to determine test takers ability to read and interpret a sustained piece of literature. As the prose questions vary from characterization to the author’s tone, test takers are tested upon their ability to take a piece of information such as a metaphor in a passage and be able to connect it to the passage as a whole. With that being said, it’s very important to annotate the passage and circle any words or phrases that are parallel towards the essay question. If an essay question is asking for the author’s tone toward a character (2005) underlining positive or negative words dealing with the character can help contribute completeness of the essay.

Different types of Prose Questions• Analyze narrative and literary

techniques and other resources of language used for characterization.

• How does a narrator reveal character? (i.e., tone, diction, syntax, point of view)

• How does the author reveal a character's predicament? (i.e., diction, imagery, point of view) Explain the effect of the passage on the reader.

• Compare/contrast two passages concerning diction and details for effect on reader.

• How does the passage provide characterization and evaluation of one character over another? (i.e., diction, syntax, imagery, tone)

• What is the attitude of the speaker toward a particular subject?

• Analyze the effect of revision when given both the original and the revised version of a text.

• http://mikkoapl.edublogs.org/ap-exam-guidelines/